What happened next (Part 1.)

So, I’ve been thinking that it’s a bit of a shame that I never chronicled the next stages of my kit car experience. Well, having sold the MNR, several months passed and things looked ‘ok-ish’ at work. It looked like I’d be employed for a while yet. So, I started to look for a new toy to keep me occupied over the summer. Kate and I decided to go and look at an ex-RGB racer in Sussex. As it’s almost an age-away, we booked a cosy pub-slash-B&B so we didn’t need to spend the whole day on the road. About 90minutes into the journey we got a call to say that the car was sold. Dammit! It was then I realised that the Deitling Kit Car show was on the next day fairly close to our intended destination so we decided to press-on and go and see if anything caught my eye there. In summary nothing did. I did however buy one of the kit car rags and had a quick flick through the classifieds. Unbelievably there was a Sylva Striker for sale at an extremely good price… four (yes FOUR) miles from home! Just to emphasise the significance, we don’t live in a great metropolis where hundreds of thousands of people inhabit every square mile. The image below shows the local terrain. It’s green, because it’s essentially a mountain

I rang the guy and arranged to go and see it as soon as possible. Of course, after all that travelling, the car on my door-step was great. A 1600cc x-flow powered Mark II Striker; kit built in 1990 and finally SVA’d and registered by its second owner 17 years later! It makes you wonder how many kits are just sat waiting to be built in peoples’ sheds. Anyway, it was cheap and fun. I proved this by picking it up the following Saturday and driving it straight to Llandow Circuit for an afternoon on-track. It ran faultlessly. I didn’t touch the suspension settings, the oil pressure stayed good and it kept-up with a friend’s much more expensive (and heavy!) Zetec powered Striker. Happy Days.

Perhaps the car’s biggest adventure under my short spell of ownership was the trip that the brunette and I made to the National Kit Car show at Stoneleigh. We managed to get a tent, sleeping bags (lashed to the roll bar) and all sorts of other stuff in the little boot. The weather wasn’t great on the way to the show and it was even worse coming home – I was bloody frozen!

On the subject of poor weather, we also spent a weekend on Anglesey watching the 750MC racing; at least that’s what I think it was. It was so wet it could have been powerboat racing! I hadn’t visited Anglesey Circuit before and was keen to. Despite the weather and one or two bizarre locals (yes, I’m talking to you Restaurant Manager-lady!) we met along the way we had a good time. Problem was, I felt that racing itch again. Big Time.

THE END

Well, this is it. The end of my sorry tale. The MNR went to its new home yesterday. The car is actually going back to MNR themselves to be finished and road registered. So, it looks like it will get used more often than I had ever planned - which is good.

What have I learnt?

1. These things take time. Think very carefully about whether or not you will have the time to complete such a project. I'd have been okay, I think - but once I was offered sponsorship for my MBA things inevitably became impossible.
2. These things take patience. At times I surprised myself with how calm I was. At times I scared myself with how angry/upset I could get.
3. It helps to have skilled and willing friends around you. In particular, I'd like to thank Lyn, the other Lyn and Steve. I couldn't have got as far as I did without you. I'd also like to thank Julia. While we have separated since, I could not have asked for a more patient partner as I wandered off into the garage and returned a number of hours later; sometimes happy, occasionally fuming!

I have no idea how many have read my ramblings over the past couple of years, but if you have, thank you. I hope that some of you have looked at my efforts and thought, "I can do better than that" and have been right and succeeded.

I'm conscious that this final post seems quite morose. In reality when I looked over the car for the last time yesterday, the overwhelming emotion that I felt was pride. I've looked at a lot of kit-cars over the past few years and some of what I'd achieved was way above average. Dan (the new owner) appeared to hold the same view, so I drove away happy, not just that I'd taken a step towards financial security given my impending joblessness, but also because I'd done a decent job.

There's no real news on the employment front, but when things pick-up I do hope I'll return to kit-car ownership. That said, I don't think that I'd build another myself. Perhaps a rebuild would be better...

Best wishes,

TC

A very sad time...

Having decided that I was going to keep the car and having made arrangements for it to be finished, the game changed completely.

My employer has gone into administration and less than 20% of the staff remain. Details can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7872725.stm

The future looks bleak for those of us that remain. I fully expect to be unemployed very soon. So, 'Gulfie' is up For Sale at the bargain price of £6500.00.

The advert can be found on Pistonheads: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/891532.htm

Also for sale is my 1998 BMW Alpina B10 3.2.

:(

I've not seen the poor car in 3 months...

... and am giving serious thought to its future under my ownership.

I used to have a life, then work ate it.

TC

Cut 'n' Shut (Pipe)

I read some similar blogs and I’m left in awe of what one guy in a shed often achieves. In many cases I have neither the skill nor the time to replicate these achievements, so it's unlikely that anyone will find much useful advice, for example, on how best to fabricate something here. What I have proved reasonably good at however is finding people who can do this stuff for me. I’ll prepare a list of useful links/contacts sometime soon. One good example is Chris Eva of Evalution Designs (http://www.evalution-designs.co.uk/index.htm ) He’s made quite a few things for the car now (a catch tank is next) and is bloody brilliant at what he does.

You may remember me mentioning that the steering column clashed with the lower radiator pipe. I sent Chris the pipe and got him to yield his saw and welder. The result is below. Nicely notched with plenty of room for fluid to still flow. Job done, I’m sure.

I’d like to say a special thanks to Phil M from the Locostbuilders site for sending me the steering rack boots that I’d been searching high and low for – it’s very much appreciated.

Other parts supply issues: On the downside, I’m still trying to find someone to sew a zip in my boot cover; on the plus-side I think I should have my suspension spacers this week.

Right, must get back to the studying (yup, Year 2 of my MBA is underway!)

TC

Surely not another update so soon?

So, I spent a few more hours working on the car today. The steering wheel buttons are all wired-in so it changes gear, which is nice. Neutral is a bit of a bitch to find, but the theory is that it might be a bit easier when the car is running. It’s a good job she’s wired to start in any gear just in case.

I’ve taken a couple more pictures of the surroundings.

It’s saying something when a car looks low and mean in this company, but I think ‘Gulfie’ looks the part!

The slightly blurry picture below is supposed to show the new brackets supporting the radiator and the front of the body tub.Anyway, two updates in two days; is that some sort of record?

TC

In good company...

The MNR has now moved to its new home. As you can see, it’s in good company. The car in front is a 2000 Nissan Primera Supertourer and the car to the left is Paul Radisich’s 1995 Valvoline Mondeo touring car. You might also be able to see the back end of the racing Caterham on the ramps in front.
I thought I had the cooling system finished when an eagle-eyed individual pointed out that the bolt on the steering column interfered with one of the hard pipes. I’m going to send the offending pipe off to be modified to solve this.

This will leave the suspension set-up as the last major job remaining. I’ve been advised to get some top-hat spacers made rather than use numerous washers so that’s the plan. There are still a few nagging problems. I can’t find any steering rack boots that fit my steel rack and I can’t find anyone to sew a zip in my boot cover. I’m getting tired of waiting to drive the car now and really want to get out in the thing in October.

I’ve been toying with the idea of going racing, either in the MNR or another car. However, I’m conscious that it may bankrupt me so I’m going to wait until 2010. So, it’s trackdays and some sprints for the MNR and me as originally planned.

I’ll take some decent photos (with a real camera rather than a phone) this week to show-off the radiator brackets and other small changes.

TC